Poll: Bass..

[Klepa]

I'd say get a four string bass. I'm 99,99% sure that your teacher will teach you to play with a four stringed one. The fifth string will immediately come in the way, because the standard tuning for a 5-string adds the extra string below your lowest (thickest, lowest in pitch) string. Meaning that you'll have to pluck over it, when you first start playing smoke on the water.

It'll also give you more headache when you're trying to learn theory, as most of it is written with a 4-string bass in mind, or a 6-stringed guitar, in which case you can just ignore the two highest(thinnest) strings.

Once you get the basics down, you can duke it out for a 5-string. Neither of them is greater than the other, but learning the ropes will be easier with the 4-string.

My two teef.

 

[Captain Blackout]

You take lessons of it first, then decide if you want to buy it. Rent it at most.

Also, I recommend a 4 string bass. My brother plays one and it seems fun.

No, I definetely want to play bass

Everyone here seems to be agreeing that 4 strings is better, I'll do that then

Folks go for easy as a general rule. If you start with five, you'll challenge yourself more but it will be worth it in the long run. I spent years playing Hearts against a master, and never won. However I beat the piss out of a lot of other folks because of what I learned. All things are like this. Also, yes buy one. There's nothing like owning an instrument. I rarely play these days, but it's nice to be able to get my violin out once in a while and strangle the cat a bit...

EDIT: After reading a few posts, I have to say I was dead wrong. Go for 6, 5 is for wusses....

 

[zerzxes]

Don't get the 5 string unless you have some experience with playing bass guitars. 4-strins are easier to play and are alot more common so you won't need the B-string that much.

 

[Stickyreiss]

don't listen to these guys OP, get 20 string

but seriously, I play bass and guitar, 4 strings is all you need until you are playing Jazz or blues

 

[BlindMessiah94]

If you are just starting out get 4. But if you're gonna get 5, might as well get 6. Our bass player in our band has 6 string and its awesome, let's him play a lot of cool bass chords.

 

[Sennz0r]

When I started out I bought a 4 string bass. It's more all-round like everyone here says so you can start out with a wider range of styles, which is always good to see where your preferences lie.

If the style you prefer demands fretless or 5 or maybe even 6 strings you can buy one of those. But for the time being definitely get a 4 string. Lot easier to start off with, and it looks cooler.

Also that mega bass atrocity is, well... horrible.

 

[Virus0015]

My friend plays a 5 string and he says it's a lot more useful than a four string. However hes been playing for four years and he did his first year on a 4 string. So if in doubt get a cheap 4 string and upgrade to a nice 5 string later on.

 

[Ghost]

4, no other option if you are a beginner.

 

[FranzTyphid]

fish have strings!??

 

[A_Parked_Car]

You probably don't need a five string bass right away, but it depends on the music you listen to. Not too many genres really need the extra low string.
Plus it is harder to play a five string bass since the neck is thicker and harder to get your hand around.
Also like some people have mentioned above you should figure out if you like playing bass before you fork out the cash to get your own.

 

[TheSeventhLoneWolf]

You take lessons of it first, then decide if you want to buy it. Rent it at most.

Also, I recommend a 4 string bass. My brother plays one and it seems fun.

No, I definetely want to play bass

Everyone here seems to be agreeing that 4 strings is better, I'll do that then

Get a four string and don't get yourself lost in the possibilities of a 5 string, always start off small and you won't regret it.

I've been playing bass for awhile now, one day i just picked up a bass and started teaching myself how to play it.

 

[Frankydee]

Spoiler: hell yea

seriously though, start off on a four, work up to a five when you got the experience, or just stick with a four.

 

[Poomanchu745]

Aw dang I was hopin it was gonna be more along the lines of small mouth or big mouth...

 

[Karlaxx]

Depends on the style you want to play. I am 4 strings all the way, but there are definitely occasions for 5 strings, mostly jazz I think. Figure out your niche first.

 

[Jharry5]

I only have a very limited knowledge of these sorts of things but I did play bass for a while at school. I remember being told that the four string bass is the perfect way to get started. There are only a few styles that need more than four strings...